Push lock switch



` S. F. BRIGGS AND E. N. JACOBL l PusHfLo'cK swlTcH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9,' 1.91?. l

' Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I! In S. F. BRIGGS AND E. N. IACOBI.

PUSH LOCK SWITCH.

APPLICATION FsLED MAY 9, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- f -Il Patented Nov. 7,1922.

y s. F.' BBIGGS AND E. N. JAcoBl.

PUSH LOCK SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1917.

1,434,769.. Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

Patented Nev.. 7; 122.

tata

ENT -lFllCEO STEPHEN F. BRIGGS AND EDWARD N. JACOBI, OIIF IVHLWAUKIEE,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNGBS TO BRIGGS & STRATTON COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN, A CORPORATON OF WISCONSIN.

PUSH LOCK SWTCH.

Application filed May 9, 1917. Serial No. 167,476.

To (L'ZZ lwho/m t may concern,

Be it known that we; STEM-IEN lf. Barcos and llnwnuu N. .lAeonn citizensof the United States; and residents of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin; have invented new and usefulimprovements in lush Lock Switches, of which the following is adescription, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, whichare a part of this specitication.

This invention relates toa lock switch of the type in which theinsertion of a key and the turning thereof incident to its retainingengagement causes it to be forced inwardly. An object of the inventionis to utilize such longitudinal movement of the key to disable the lock,or to effect the operation of a switch supplemental to the lockedswitch, or to accomplish both purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key guide of novel andinexpensive construction capable of retaining itself in place within ahollow switch handle and serving to guide the key against edgewisedisplacement as well as against lateral displacement and which willprevent the insertion of a screw driver or knife blade or other similarimplements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key thrust cami forforcing the key when turned to move longitudinally and to relieve theswitch handle from the wear of the key. i

Another object of the invention is to so construct the switch lockingmeans as to minimize the` cost of manufacture while increasing thestrength and durability.

W ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thepush lock switch as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the same characters ofreference indicate like parts in the several Views:

Fig. 1 is a front view of al switch constructed in accordance' with thisinvention mounted on a panel or front plate;

Fig. 2 is a4 central sectional view of the switch in its lockedcondition with the key in the act of being inserted;

lt41 ig. 3 is a. similar View thereof with the switch in the unlockedcondition;

if 1g. 4 is a central sectional view of the switch in the unlockedcondition taken on a plane at right angles to the sectional plane ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the switch case with the terminal head removed;

Fig. 6 is a view of the inner face of the terminal head;

Fig. 7 is a View of the rear face of the terminal head;

Fig.. 8 is a rear view of the switch handle with the key thrust cam andthe key guide in place; C

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the key thrust cam inverted; v

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the key guide;

Fig. 11 isfa sectional View of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a rear view thereof with the terminal head removed; and,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the'thrust i plate lock ring thereof.

ln these drawings 15 indicates aswitch panel or front plate through anopening in which is rotatably mounted a switch handleI of the switchmechanism of this invention. The switch may be used for controlling thelighting circuits of anvautomobile; in which caseI the position of theswitch handle with respect to suitable designations on the front plate.will preferably indicate the positions of the switchv for the variousco-nditions of the lighting circuit effected thereby.

The switch handle 16 is preferably a hollow shell die casting with anannular rabbet fitting the opening of the front plate. A Contact disk 17of insulating material and of larger diameter than the opening of thefront plate is secured to the handle 16 by screws 18. The switch handleis thus rotatably mounted on the front plate with the edges of thefro-nt. plate opening held between it. 'and the contact disk.

A. metal switch casing 19 has an in-tnrned flange riveted to the back ofthe front plate and an out-turned flange secured to the in- Tio sulatingdisk 20. The disk 20 constitutes a terminal head by having contact studs21 forced therethrough and serving as stationary contacts engaged byspring contact arms 22 secured to the Contact disk 17. The ends orn thevcontact arms 22 are spherically' conver and bear on the surface oi' theterminal head which is provided with a series of notches 23 to receivesaid ends ot the contact arms in the diderent positions oi" the switchhandle. Some ot the notches are located in the ends of the plugs 21 sothat in some positions et the switch electrical connections areestablished by the engagement et the contact arms with the stationarycontacts, the latter being provided with binding posts for conveniencein making wiring connections.

1n order to limit the turning movement of the switch handle a lug 24projects Jtrom the in-turned edge of the switch case 19 into a recess 25cut in the edge ot the contact disk 17, the engagement ot the lug withthe end walls of the recess forming a stop tor producing suchlimitation.

llhere is a circular opening in the end of the switch handle withinwhich a suitable key 26 may turn and this opening is par- .tially closedby means ot a key guide 27 with a central slot forming the key opening.The key guide consists of a strip ot sheet metal bent to a itl-form withits bent portion narrower than its upper portion to form a stirrup whichis straddled by the spaced lugs at the end of the key, as seen in Fig.4., and with its upper ends bent' outwardly and of approximatelysemi-circular shape to bear upon a ange 28 ot the circular opening ofthe switch handle. Each ot the broad upper portio-ns of the key guidehas an extension 29 bent up: at an angle thereto and engaging the bottomoit the flange 28, thus cooperating with the outwardly bent upper endsof the key guide to hold the key guide in place on-the ange. rllhe keywhen being inserted is directed in its movements within the hollowhandle by its engagement with the broad upper parts of the key guide andby its engagement with the extensions 29 so that the key cannot beimproperly inserted either by tilting it laterally or edgewise.

A ltl-shaped sheet metal key thrust cam 30 has its outwardly turned endscountersunk in grooves in the bottom ot the switch handle and openingsthrough said ends receive the screws 18 so that the cam is rigidly heldbetween the contact disk and the handle and is arched above the contactdisk. At its raisedportion the cam has an elongated slot 31 with anenlarged middle portion. The reduced bent lower end of the key guideturns within the enlarged portion of the slot and the key may enter theslot and because of notches 32 in its edges may turn so as to v:incarneis inserted through the slot 31 to the position in` which it engages thegroove 33.

rllhe longitudinal, movements of the key are transmitted to a lockingmember 34 through the intervention of an insulating pin 35 looselypassing through the Contact disk 17 and having a. metal cup 36 restingthere-V on to receive the spaced lugs on thel end of the key. Thelocking member 34 is held upwardly with spring pressure, as will be moreparticularly described and the pin 35 therefore normally holds the cup36 against the end of the key guide, as shown in Fig. 2. llhe cup isconine-d between the opposite surfaces of the parallel parts otV the keythrust-cam 30 and between a pair of parallel ribs 37 Jformed on theinner walls o1' the switch handle for the purpose.

The locking member 34 consists of a still metal strip pivotally mountedon one of the terminal studs 21 by having an opening in 'its end throughwhich the reduced portion ot the terminal stud passes with its eXtremityupset forming ahead for confining the strip. rEhe outer end of the stripis guided within a staple 38 driven in the terminal head 20 and springtongues 39 similarly mounted on the reduced portion'of the same contactstud 31, but without play, have reduced upturned ends passing throughanv opening in the strip 34 to press it upwardly l against the end ofpin'35.' ln the normal position of the strip 34 it bears against theContact disk 17 and prevents the turning of the switch handle byengaging shoulders on pins 40 which project from said contact disk. Whenthe key 26 is forced by the cam action of the thrust cam 30, it forcesthe cup 36 against the pin 35 'and causes the latter to move theloc-king strip 34 downwardly out of engagement with the pins 40,thusunlocking the switch and permitting the turning ot the switchhandle. rlhe pins 40 are so positioned that the locking engagement maybe effected in any of the operative positions ot the switch.

Mounted on the terminal stud 21 with the spring tongues 39 is a contactspring 41 which is longer than said spring tongues and has an openingthrough which their upturned ends pass while.V its kouter end is bentvdownwardly to engage a contact stud 42 when the locking member isdepressed, said Contact stud 42 being in electrical connect-ion with onenoi. the terminal studs' so that the engagement of the spring contacttherewith maybe relied on to establish a cirille switch mechanism.

recesses cuit, such as the ignition circuit of the gas engine of anautomobile, while the other terminal studs in their engagement with thecontact arms 22 may control the various lighting circuits of theautomobile.

ln operation the switch handle controlling the main switch mechanism islocked against movement whenever the key is removed and the supplementall switch at such times is open and can only be closed by the insertionof the proper key for unlocking the main Thus when applied to thecircuits of an automobile as mentioned the lights ma be left in anydesired condition as contro led by the various positions of the mainlswitch mechanism and may not be changed by an unauthorized persontampering with the switch, while the ignition circuit may not be closedto permit the engine to be operated. The mere act of inserting andturning the key, however, closes the ignition circuit and unlocks thelightingr switch. The key is eflectively held in* place by its shouldersfitting in the grooves 33 of the thrust cam where they are held by thepressure of the springs of the locking member 34. This key thrust cam3() is of hard metal and takes the wear incident to the key thrustinstead ,of the wear being taken by the comparatively soft metal ot themolded handle member.

lhe key guide formed by a single piece of sheet metal bent into shapeserves to hold itself in place by engaging above and below the annulartlange 28 around the key hole opening and effectively ,guides the keyagainst lateral or edgewise displacement and at the same time preventsthe depression of the ignition switch by a tool Such as a screw driveror the like.

1n that form of the invention shown in ligs. 11, 12 and 13 a thrustplate lock ring 43 is held between the contact disk and the switchhandle, the screws 18 passing through openings thereof so that it formsla part of the movable switch mechanism. instead of shoulders beingformed on the contact disk to limit the movements of the switch handle,the edge oi? the lock ring 43 is recessed to form stop shoulders 44 forengaging the lug 24 of the switch case. This lock ring, furthermore, isprovided with a downwardly extending flange 45 at one portion thereofand said Hangs has spaced lugs 40 thereon to take the place of the pins40' for engaging the locking member 34 for locking the switch.v Thislock ring not only forms a bearing engagement with the front plate 15thatl will relieve the contact disk from wear, but by bearing with thepressure of the locking member springs against the edgeA ot the frontplate, it assures an electrical .contact therewithwhich may be utilizedin the event of the switch being employed with the magneto ignitionsystem for disabling the magneto vwhen the key is removed, the lockingmember 34 serving to ground the magneto by its engagement with theflange 45 of said lock ring, it being understood that the front plate isprovided with a suitable ground connection not shown.

The entire switch mechanism is exceedingly strong and durable andinexpensive to manufacture.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. In a lock switch, a movable switch member, a locking means therefor,a removable rotatable key, and a cam engaged by the key in its rotarymovements for moving the key endwise to move the locking member.

2. ln a lock.'v switch, `a movable switch member, aremovable keyrotatably mounted therein, a cam in the path of the key for giving itlongitudinal movement, and a locking member for the switch member movedinto and out of position by the longitudinal movements of the key.

3. lin a lock switch, a movab'ly mounted switch member, a key removablyfitting therein and adapted to turn, a cam on the switch member engagedby the key when it is' turned and forcing the key to movelongitudinally, means passing through the switch member engaged by thekey and transmitting the longitudinal movements thereof, and a lockingmember engaged by said means and operated by such longitudinalmovements.

4. ln a lock switch, a movably mounted switch member, a detachable kevto turn therein, a cam engaged -y the key for giving it a longitudinalmovement, means passing through the switch member for transmitting-thelongitudinal movement oit the ke a switch case surrounding the switchmember, a locking member pivotally 'mounted on the switch case andengaged by the said means, and a shoulder on the switch member engagedby the locking member.

5. ln a lock switch, a rotatably mounted handle having anopening-therethrough, a key adapted to pass through said opening. a camplate within the handle engaged by the key 'for causing longitudinalmovements of' the key, a Contact disk secured to the handle, a pinpassing through the contact disk, means bearing on the pin and engagedby the key, a switch case surrounding the contact disk, anda lockingmember connecting the contact disk with the switch case and engaged bythe pin and moved out 01"* its locking engagement by the longitudinal tmovements of the key.

6. lin a lock switch, a handle having a flanged opening, a key guideengaging the opposite sides ot the flange of said opening and havingflat side walls with flanges bent therefrom to form end, walls and witha reduced bent connecting portion at its lower end, a key fitting withinthe key guide and guided by the walls thereot and provided withprojections on its end to pass beyond the bent end portion ot the keyguide, a cam within the handle having a islotted opening through whichthe reduced end portion ot the guide passes and adapted to have the keypassed therethrough, said cam hav ing the edges ot its opening inclinedto torce the key longitudinally when turned in engagement therewith, acontact disk .car-

, ried by the handle, means engaged by the key and passing through thecontact disk, and a locking member for the contact disk engaged by saidmeans.

7. ln a lock switch, a handle, a contact disk secured thereto, a camplate secured between the handle and the contact disk and having aslotted opening, a key passing through the handle and into the slottedopening of the cam and provided with opposite shoulders to engage theedges of said opening of the cam, the edges of the opening ot the cambeing inclined to produce a longitudinal movement ot the key when turnedin engagement therewith, there being a groove in the cam engaged by saidshoulders ot the key, and spring pressed locking means for the contactdisk engaged by the .key and forced out ot its locking engagement by thelongitudinal movement of the key.

8. ln a lock switch, a hollow handle having a tlanged opening, a keyguide within the handle engaging the flange ot the opening and having a.reduced ben't inner end,

va` contact disk secured to the handle, an arched cam plate wthin thehandle with itsv ends held between the handle and the contact disk,there being a slotted opening in the cam plate receiving, the reducedbent end oit the key guide and having its edges inclined to 'form cams,a key passing through the key guide and the slotted opening oit the camplate and having opposite shoulders to engage the cam edges ot the camplate and provided with projections on its end passing beyond the bentportion ot the key guide, a cup within the handle and between theparallel portions of the cam plate and ceA adapted to receive the endprojections-ot the key, a'pin passing through the contact disk andbearing on the cup, and a locking member tor the contact disk bearing onthe pin with spring pressure.

9. ln a lock switch, a switch handle, a contact disk secured thereto,key controlled means movable through the contact disk, a switch casesurrounding the contact disk, a stud thereon with an upset end, alocking member loosely mounted on the stud, a spring bearing on thelocking member and holding it against saidl key controlled means,

neanke@ a guide tor the Jtree end ot the locking inember and shoulderson the contact disk engaged by the lookin@` member. y

10. ln a lock switch, a switch handle, a contact disk secured thereto,key controlled means movable through the "contact disk, a switch casesurrounding the contact disk, a stud thereon having a reduced portion, aleaf spring itting, on the reduced portion et the stud and securedthereto by having a part ot the reduced portion ont the stud upsetthereon, a metal strip pivotally mounted on the stud by tting over thereduced portion of the stud and confined thereon by the end ot saidreduced portion being upset and held by the pressure et the springagainst the key controlled means, a guide for the tree end oi" the metalstrip, and shoulders on the contact disk engaged by the metal strip.

il. ln a. lock switch, a switch handle, a contact disk secured thereto,key controlled means movable through the contact disk, a switch casesurrounding the contact disk, a stud thereon having a reduced portion, aleat spring and a contact spring tting on the reduced portion oi" thestud and secured thereto by having a part or" the reduced portion of thestud upset thereon, the end of the spring being reduced and passedthrough an opening in the contact spring, a metal strip pivotallymounted onthe stud by iitting over the reduced portion ot the stud andcontined thereon by the end ot said reduced portion being upset andhaving an opening to receive the upturned end ot the spring,the pressureof the spring serving to hold the metal strip against the key controlledmeans, a guide tor the tree end ot the metal strip, shoulders on thecontact disk tor engaging the metal strip, and a contact engaged by thecontact spring.

l2. ln a lock switch, a switch handle, a trent plate in which the handleis' mounted, a switch case secured to the trent plate, a contact diskwithin the switch case and secured to the switch handle, a lock ring between the contact disk and the switch handle, and bearing on the frontplate and provided with` a downwardly turned flange with locking lugs onitsv edge, a key controlled means movable through the contact disk, anda locking member on the switch case bearing thereon and adapted toengage the lugs oiv the Hangs ot the locking ring.

`13. ln a lock trent plate in which thehandle is mounted, a switch casesecured to the trent plate, a contact-disk within the switch case andse# cured to the switch handle, a lock ring between the contact disk andthe swch handle and bearing on the front plate and provided with adownwardly turned flange with locking lugs on its edge, a key controlledswitch, aswitch handle, 'a i ELA-.34,769

1n testimony whereof we aix our signa.-

tures, in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN F. BRGGS. EDWARD N. JACOBL Witnesses:

R; S. C. CALDWELL, H. D. CHASE.

